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Frequently Asked Questions
Undoubtedly you have questions about IP based telephony. Here are answers to many of the ones that get asked often.
Q: What is Voice over IP?
A: Voice over IP, also called VoIP or IP Telephony uses the same
network that you use for data to carry voice calls. You may see the
term "converged network" to refer to data, voice, and video all
being sent on the same Internet Protocol based network rather than
on two or three set of wires.
Q: Will Voice over IP save my company
money?
A: The answer to this question is an unqualified maybe. If you are a
sole practitioner in a home office, you will probably be able to
save with an appropriate service compared to what the incumbent
phone company will charge. If you're a small business with only a
few lines and you don't make many long distance calls or use high
end phone features, probably not, but if your service area is more
than local or you subscribe to a Centrex like service of advanced
calling features, IP telephony will very likely result in savings. A
small or medium business can often realize substantial savings over
individual lines for each employee.
Q: If the savings are marginal, why
should I consider VoIP?
A: This is an important question to ask. Primarily, even if you
"break even" with an IP telephony solution, what you present to the
world will be a professional system with the advanced features
formerly limited to large enterprises. Auto attendant, call
forwarding, conference calling, automated call distribution, and
single number reach are but a few.
Q: What are the disadvantages of VoIP?
A: Voice over IP traffic can strain the capabilities of your
network. This often happens if outside (both inbound and outbound)
call volume is high over some kinds of connections. Your VoIP
solution should include provisions of recognizing voice traffic and
giving it a high priority. You may also need to upgrade your
Internet connection if you call volume warrants it.
Q: What features will I have?
A: A complete list of features will depend on a couple things. One
is the IP telephony system you install. The other is what features
your service provide makes available. In general, you will have all
the features we have come to expect in high end PBX system that
large companies have been using for a long time. In fact, the
manufacturers of those PBX systems are increasingly providing VoIP
capabilities. Some industry analysts think that traditional phone
switches and PBX systems will go the way of the dinosaurs soon. That
means there really will be no fundamental difference in
functionality of IP based phone systems no matter the size of the
business. They will just be bigger or smaller based on your needs.
Q: What happens if there is a power
failure?
A: One of the great benefits of the traditional phone system is its
reliability. Phone companies have the means to keep their networks
running with almost zero outages. In order to provide high
reliability, your VoIP systems needs to be designed carefully with
appropriate power backups. If you rely on high speed service from a
telco, you will experience that same reliability for your
connection. If you have high speed service from your cable company,
you may experience occasional interruptions of service. In either
case, you need battery backup for your VoIP system to keep the
devices on your premises operating if the lights go out.
Q: Can I keep my phone number?
A: In most cases, yes. This is called porting. Local Number
Portability (LNP) is required by law under most, but not all,
circumstances.
Q: What about emergency calling?
A: This is an important concern. You may want to have back up way of
calling during an emergency that coincides with a power outage.
Under nearly all circumstances, an Internet Telephony Service
Provider is required to register your phone system for emergency
calling. Some companies keep a traditional phone line to be used for
emergencies.
Q: Does my number have to be local?
A: Most IP telephony services allow a primary number in most US area
codes. Most of them also allow "virtual" numbers in other area
codes. This make sense if your business is in one city and many of
your customers are in another. You can also add toll free service if
you like.
If you have additional questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.